Manufacture of staple fiber products from continuous filaments



Oct. 29, 1940. H..DREYFUS ET AL MANUFACTURE OF STAPLE FIBER PRODUCTSFROM CONTINUOUS FILAMENTS Filed July 23, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l H-DREYFUSW POOL INVENTanS mowers 0d. 29, 1940. DREYFUS ET AL 2,219,356

MANUFACTURE OF STAPLE FIBER PRODUCTS FROM CONTINUOUS FILAMENTS FiledJuly 23, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H- DREYF-US w. POOL INVENTDRS ///,W

Patented Oct. 29, 1940 PATENT OFFICE MANUFACTURE OF STAPLE FIBER PROD-UCTS FROM CONTINUOUS FILAMENTS Henry Dreyfus, London,

and William Pool,

Spondon, near Derby, England, assignors to Celanese Corporation ofAmerica, a corporation of Delaware Application July 23, 1937, Serial No.155,226 In Great Britain July 31, 1936 32 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of staple fiber products fromcontinuous filaments.

Though artificial filaments are produced in substantially continuousform, and though the bulk of such filaments have up to the present beenabsorbed by the textile industry as continuous filament yarns, manyprocesses have been devised and proposals put forward for convertingartificial filaments into staple fiber yarns so as 0 to form a productin which can be found some of the characteristics of artificialfilaments together with properties ordinarily obtained only from fibersof naturally occurring products such as cotton or wool. either asrelatively short lengths cut from hanks, or in substantially continuouslengths direct from the spinning machine, have been cut into fibers ofdefinite short lengths, which fibers are then worked up into yarns byprocesses similar to those accorded to the naturally occurring fibers ofsimilar lengths, with the advantage that apart from substantialuniformity of fiber length'no preliminary cleaning operation isnecessary. In view, however, of the compact form in which the filamentsare fed to the cutter, the fibers lie closely side by side in the formof bundles, and an opening operation is essential in order to separatefiber 1 from fiber and form the uniformly distributed mass necessary forsubjection to the type of operation applied to cotton and other fibers.

The method just outlined involves a long series of operations in whichthe mass of fibers prepared by the opener is gradually converted intoyarn. There have been suggested, however, processes for converting thecontinuous filaments directly or substantially directly into staplefiber yarns. Thus, with the idea of forming a fibrous product in theform of a sliver, slubbing, or roving in-. tended to be drafted to afiner count and twisted into yarn, it has been proposed to subject abundle of continuous filaments to a c'ontinuous breaking operationemploying nip rollers, all the filaments in turn being broken withoutthe product losing its continuity. Such an operation gives,

Thus, artificial filaments supplied sure against a cutting surfacebetween which and the filaments there is relative motion in thedirection of movement of the filaments, the pressure being confinedsubstantially to a point in the length of the bundle so as to effectcutting 5 of the filaments into fibers. This product again containsfibers having a range of different lengths, but, since the conversionin-this operation is effected by cutting, the physical porperties of thefilaments are not substantially modified.

Proposals have been made which involve cutting a thick compact bundle ofcontinuous filaments by knives, which may be set obliquely to the lengthof the bundle, while maintaining con- 15 tinuity of the bundleconsidered as a whole, the fibrous product thus obtained beingessentially in a form that necessitates drafting by conventionaloperations in order to convert it into a yarn; moreover, as a result ofthe compact form in which the filaments are cut (and in this respect thecutting corresponds closely with the operation above described ofconverting continuous filaments into a mass of fibers requiring tobeopened before they can be further processed), 25 such necessarydrafting is difficult of accomplishment. Furthermore, many of the stepsordinarily applied in the spinning of cotton and wool fibers arenecessary for the conversion of the product into yarn. I

The present invention has for its object to produce continuous staplefiber products containing cut fibers. of predetermined length directlyfrom continuous filaments, e. g., cellulose acetate, viscose,cuprammonium, or natural silk filaments, 1

' or mixtures of two or more of these.

According to the invention a substantially twistless bundle bfassociated continuous filaments is continuously converted into a staplefiber product by feeding forward the bundle, separat ing the filamentsof the bundle from each other at the end of the bundle, cutting fromsuch separated filaments a predetermined length to yield a group offibers, and repeating these operations so as to obtain asuccession ofgroups of separated fibers, and, while the cut fibers are still separateassembling the groups of fibers in such a manner that the forward endsof fibers of each group extend beyond, 1. e., overlap, the rearward endsof fibers of the preceding group to such an exl tent that uponsubsequently compacting the fibers a coherent continuous productconsisting of staple fiber may be produced, and then compacting thefibers into the continuous staple fiber product.

By reason of the separated condition of the fibers of the groups and thearranging of the groups so that the forward ends of fibers of each groupextend beyond or overlap the rearward ends of fibers of the precedinggroup, the fibers of the successive groups intermingle, to enable thegroups to be compacted into a coherent product.

The bundle of associated continuous filaments to be converted into thestaple fiber product may take the form of a band or thread of untwistedfilaments or of a thread having a very low degree of twist, but in thelatter case, the degree .of twist must be sufiiciently low to enable thecomponent filaments to be separated one from the other. The expressionsubstantially twistless used in connection with the bundle means thatthe bundle contains no twist or that if any twist is present in thebundle, it should be insufiicient to hinder free separation one from theother of the component filaments at the end of the bundle.

The regularity of the cross-section of the continuous staple fiberproduct may be enhanced by' ensuring that the fibers produced by cuttingthe separated filaments are so disposed that the ends of the fibers aredistributed along the length of the product. Thus, groups of separatedfibers may be cut from two or more bundles of continuous filaments andassociated and compacted into a single continuous staple fiber product,or groups of separated filaments derived from one or more bundles may becut so that the ends of the fibers formed from each group are staggeredwith respect to the ends of the fibers formed from the other groups, thegroups of fibers so formed then being associated and compacted into asingle continuous staple fiber product having fiber ends distributed atregular intervals along its length.. Again, the separated filaments of abundle may be cut obliquely to their length so that the ends of thefibers of each group are progressively staggered lengthwise of thegroup, the

ends maintaining such staggered disposition whether or not the groupsare associated with other groups cut from another bundle or otherbundles) and forming a continuous product of regularly distributedfibers.

Further, a single bundle of continuous filaments may be divided into twoor more groups of separated filaments,'each group being cut into asuccession of separated fibers of predetermined length, which areassembled and compacted, in the manner referred to above, to form anindividual continuous staple fiber product, In this way a number ofcontinuous staple fiber products may be formed from a single bundle ofcontinuous filaments. This procedure is advantageous for the productionof continuous staple fiber products of fine count or denier, e. g'., 50,100 or 150 denier.

By way of example the invention will now be described in greater detailwith reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings of which- Fig.1 is a part cross-sectional end elevation of a filament converting andyarn forming machine;

Figs. 2 and 3 show a detail of Fig. 1 on a larger scale;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. l with certain elements removed forclarity of illustration;

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the construction of the continuousstaple fibre product formed in the apparatus illustrated in thepreceding figures; and

Figs, 6 and 7 are part cross-sectional elevation and plan viewsrespectively of a detail of Figs. 1 to 4.

Referring to Fig. 1 a bundle of substantially twistless continuousfilaments 8 is withdrawn from a supply bobbin 9 by a pair of nip rollersHi, the filaments passing from the supply bobbin to the rollers by wayof guides II and through a gate tension device I2. The nip rollers l0feed the filaments to an ejector nozzle [3 formed with a filamententrance hole H (see Figs. 4 and 6) and a fiat flared ejecting orificeI5, the nozzle being fed with compressed air from a supply pipe 16.

As indicated by arrows in Fig. 6 the air passes downwardly alongaconduit. l I and through a jet I8 to the orifice l5, the jet beingformed with three diverging passages I 9 in order to spread the blast ofair as it passes through and out of the orifice l5, the fiat flaredshape of which assists in flattening and spreading out the currentfanwise.

The passage of'the air from the jet ID to the orifice l 5 createssuction at the filament entrance hole ll with the result that thefilaments are sucked through the hole and into the main air currentwhich serves both to eject through the orifice I5 a length of thefilaments longer than the length of the staple desired and to separatethe filaments of the length one from the other in the form of asubstantially fiat band during the ejection, any slight degree of twistin the bundle being freed under the influence of the air blast. Thebundle of filaments should not contain a fin-. ish that prevents the airblast from separating the filaments, and for this reason it is desirableto employ unlubricated filaments.

On being ejected from the orifice IS the separated end portions of thefilaments 8 extend across an endless permeable band 20 which is drivenover the surface of a suction conduit 2| by a roller 22 engaging theinside of the band. The

band is kept taut by an idler roller 23 which is spring-urged intocontact with the band, The suction conduit 2| is connected to a suctionvessel 24 by a pipe 25.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the conduit 2| is of flattened cross-sectionand is perforated at two points 21, 28, two separate streams of air thusflowing into the conduit through the permeable band 20, as indicated bythe arrows. On the ejection of the filaments 8 from the nozzle I5 theends of the filaments are seized and held to the band by the suction dueto the perforations 2 as shown clearly in Fig. 1.

- Substantially simultaneously wlththe sucking to the band 20 of theseparated filament ends the supply of air to the nozzle I3 ismomentarily stopped (in a manner to be described later) and a two-limbeddeflecting member 30 (shown partly broken for convenience) disposed nearthe orifice l5 abovethe filaments descends and presses the filamentsdownwardly into engagement with the teeth of a multi-toothed cuttingdevice 3| of the hair-clipper type positioned with its teeth projectingsubstantially normally to the path of the filaments between the orificeII and the band 20, one limb of the deflecting member lying to each sideof the cutting device to ensure proper en gagement of the separatedfilaments with the teeth (see Fig. 4)

The cutting device 3| is then operated to sever the filaments into agroup of staple fibers, and

the rearward end of the group thus formed is sucked away from thecutting device and on to the band by the air current flowing into theconduit through the perforations 28, the air current being in partconcentrated on the teeth of the cutting device by a shield 29 arrangedbetween the cutting device and the perforations 28. A

group of separated fibers is thus cut and laid on the surface of themoving band 28.

On operation of the cutting device 3i, a guiding member 32 normallydisposed behind the continuous filaments as they proceed in a straightline from the nip rollers Ill to the nozzle I3 is moved forwardly (viz.to the right in Figs. 1 to 3) and in so moving deflects the filamentsfrom the straight line and draws their cut ends clear of the teeth ofthe cutting device 3| to free the filaments for further forward movementunder the influence of the air blast (see Fig. 3).

With the filaments drawn clear of the cutting device, the guide 32 isretracted to its normal inoperativeposition and the air blast isrestarted to separate and eject the filaments over the band 28 againfrom the orifice l5. The ends of the separated filaments are againsucked to the band 20 in the manner shown in Fig. 1 and the sequence ofoperations described above is repeated.

The rate of progress of the filaments 8 from the orifice I5 is dependenton the rate of rotation of the nip rollers 80, and by adjusting suchrotation, the staple length of the fiber groups laid on the band 20 canbe regulated. With the filaments delivered at a constant rate to acutting device working with a constant frequency, the fiber groups aresubstantially uniform in length.

Also, the rate of movement of the band 20 in the direction of'the lengthof the fiber groups is regulated in accordance with the rate of progressof the filaments 8 from the nozzle i5 so that as the fiber groups arecollected on the band they are assembled in such a manner that theforward ends of fibers of each group overlap the rearward ends of fibersof the preceding group. The overlapping fiber groups are shown in Fig.4, and diagrammatically in Fig. 5, the groups forming a continuousassembly 33 of fibers on the band 28.

The band 20 feeds the assembly 33 forwardly to a pair of endlesstravelling rubbing bands 3d driven by rollers 35. The upper rubbing bandof the pair is reciprocated transversely with respect to the assembly 33by crank and link mechanism 35 (to be described later) in order to rolland compact the assembly into a substantially cylindrical staple fiberproduct 3'! (Fig. 4) which is twisted into a yarn 38 and wound on abobbin 39 by a ring spinning device 48.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4 the cutting device 3! is disposed obliquelywith respect to the separated filaments so that the cut ends of thefilaments are progressively staggered lengthwise of each group (see Fig.4) Such arrangement assists in intermingling fibers of successive groupswith each other, and in evenly distributing the ends of the fibers alongthe length of the assembly 33 (and hence along the length of theultimate yarn 38) and assists in constructing a product havingsubstantially uniform strength throughout its length.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that since the cutgroups are caused to overlap, the denier of the resultant product isgreater than that of the initial filamentary bundle 8, the increase indenier depending on the degree to which the filaments overlap, moreoverlap giving a product of greater denier and vice versa.

The various elements of the machine described above are operated in thefollowing manner:

A shaft 4! driven by a chain sprocket 42 carries a chain sprocket 43(Figs. 1-3) which drives by a chain 44 the lower nip roller I!) at apredetermined speed, the upper roller being driven by frictional contactwith the lower. While the nip rollers i0 feed the continuous filaments 8to the nozzle l3 continuously and the filaments are separated andejected from the nozzle to the band 28 intermittently, the ejecting andcutting operations are effected in such rapid succession that the smallamount of slack formed in the filaments between the rollers and thenozzle due' to the continued feed of the filaments during the periods inwhich the compressed air supply is stopped is insignificant and isquickly taken up by the air blast when the air supply is restarted. Thenip rollers I!) may, however, 'be driven intermittently in accordancewith the timing of the air blasts.

The shaft 4| carries also four earns 45, 46, 41, 48, the cam 45v beingpositioned directly beneath the nozzle I3 and engaging a spring-urgedvalve controlling member 58 which on rotation of the cam is raised andlowered within the conduit ll to stop and start the fiow of air from thesupply pipe l6 at the requisite intervals, in the manner apparent fromFig. 6.

The cam 46 bears on a. follower 5| supported by a pivoted bell-cranklever 52 carrying the twolimbed deflecting member 30, the relativesetting of the cams 45, 46 being such that immediately the cam 45 hasraised the valve member 58 to stop the flow of air to the jet i8 (i. e.,after the ejection of a length of filaments longer than the length ofthe staple desired), the cam 46 rocks the bell-crank lever 52 clockwise(as seen in Fig. 1) about its pivot to bring about the defiec tion ofthe ejected filaments into the teeth of the cutting device 3!. The shapeof the cam 45 and/or the rate of rotation of the shaft 4! determines thelength of the filaments elected at each operation of the nozzle i3 (andconsequently the length of the cut group), a longer ejecting periodresulting in a longer length and vice versa. The perforations 21, 28formed in the suction conduit 2! are arranged over a substantial portionof the width of the conduit in order to accommodate different lengths offibers.

Immediately after the deflection of the filaments into the teeth of thecutting device 3!, the cam 41 rocks an associated bell-crank lever 53which is connected to the cutting device 3| by an upright arm 55, therocking of the lever 53 raising the arm 54 and so causing the arm tooperate the cutting device. 7

With the filaments thus cut, the cam 48 pushes outwardly (viz. to theright in Fig. 1) a pivoted upright lever 55 to the end of which is fixedthe guide 32, the consequent outward movement of which defiects thecontinuous filaments extending between the nip rollers i8 and the nozzlei 3 and draws the-cut ends of the filaments from the teeth of thecutting device 3| (see Fig. 3).

The cam 45 now releases the valve controlling member 50 to restart thesupply of compressed air to the jet I8 and the filaments areagainseparated and ejected from the nozzle i5, when the sequence ofoperations described above is repeated.

The shaft 4! carries a further chain sprocket 51 which drives throughchain and sprocket gearing 58 a shaft 58 upon which is mounted theroller 22 which drives the band 20. The shaft 59 drives, in turn,through chain and sprocket gear-1 ing 60 a lower shaft BI upon which ismounted the foremost roller driving the lower rubbing band 34, the drivebeing transmittedfrom the lower to the upper roller 35 on the uppershaft 6| through gearing 52.

The shaft 4| drives through bevel and shaft which reciprocates the upperrubbing band 34. In order to allow of the reciprocation, the gearing 62transmitting drive from the lower roller 35 to the upper roller is wideenough to allow of the reciprocation of the upper rubbing band whilemaintaining the drive thereto.

While apparatus for the treatment of one bundle of filaments only hasbeen referred to in the foregoing description it will be understood thatany number of such forms of apparatus could be disposed in side by siderelation, in the manner indicated in Fig. 4, in order simultaneously totreat any desired number of continuous filament bundles. to produce aproduct having a denier sensibly greater than that of the initial bundleof continuous filaments 8, two or more adjacent products 31 may beassociated on leaving the rubbing bands 34 and spun into one yarn by acommon twisting device such as the ring spinning device illustrated inthe drawings, or a cap, or fiyer spinning device.

When cutting and converting continuous.filaments of material such ascellulose acetate or other organic derivative of cellulose having a highdi-electric strength and consequently liable to retain charges of staticelectricity, it is found that the gate tension device I2 in addition tosubjecting the filaments to the desired tension electrifies thefilaments and thus causes them.

to repel each other with the result that the filaments are given adesirable preliminary spreading prior to entering the ejector nozzle I3.Such preliminary spreading may be enhanced by lim-' iting the.opportunity for the static charge to leave the filaments prior toentering the nozzle, and for this reason at least the upper nip rollerIt! may with advantage be covered with rubber or other electricalinsulating material. In order to prevent excessive wear on any oneportion of the nip rollers I 0 the filaments 8 may be traversed to andfro along the length of the rollers.

Having described our invention what we desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

1. Process for .the manufacture of staple fiber products, which consistsin continuously converting a substantially twistless bundle ofassociated continuous filaments into a staple fiber product by feedingforward the bundle, separating the filaments of the bundle from eachother at the end of the bundle so that the filaments assume a fan shape,cutting from such fan-shaped separated filaments a predetermined lengthto yield a group of fibers and remaating these operations so as toobtain a succession of groups of separated fibers, and, while the cutfibers are still separate, assembling the groups of fibers in such amanner that the forward ends of fibers of each group overlap therearward ends of fibers of the preceding group to such an extent thatupon subsequently compacting the fibers a coherent continuous productconsisting of staple fiber may be produced, and then compacting thefibers into the continuous staple fiber product.

2. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber products, which consistsin continuously converting a substantially twistless bundle ofassociated continuous filaments into a staple fiber product by feedingforward the bundle, subjecting the end of the bundle to the action of agaseous .blast so as to separate the filaments of the bundle from eachother for a length longer than the length of staple desired, cuttingfrom such separated fila- Also, where, forany reason it is desired mentsa predetermined length to yield a group of fibers and repeating theseoperations so as to obtain a succession of groups of separated fibers,and, while the cut fibers are still separate, assembling the groups offibers in such a manner that the forward ends of fibers of each groupoverlap the rearward ends of fibers of the preceding group to such anextent that upon subsequently compacting the fibers a coherentcontinuous product consisting of staple fiber may be produced, and thencompacting the fibers into the continuous staple fiber product.

3. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber products, which consistsin continuously converting a substantially twistless bundle ofassociated continuous filaments into a staple fiber product by feedingforward the bundle, separating the filaments of the bundle from eachother at the end of the bundle for a length longer than the length ofstaple desired so that the filaments assumea fan shape, seizing the freeends of the fan-shaped group of filaments, cutting from the seizedfilaments a predetermined length to yield a group of fibers andrepeating these operations so as to obtain a succession of groups ofseparated fibers, and, while the cut fibers are still separate,assembling the groups of fibers in such a manner that the forward endsof fibers of each group overlap the rearward ends of fibers of thepreceding group to such an extent that upon subsequently compacting thefibers a coherent continuous product consisting of staple fiber may beproduced, and then compacting the fibers intothe continuous staple fiberproduct.

4. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber products, which consistsin continuously convertting a substantially twistless bundle ofassociated continuous filaments intoa staple fiber product by feedingforward the bundle, subjecting the end of the bundle to the action of agaseous blast so as to separate the filaments of the bundle from eachother for a length longer than the length of staple desired, seizing thefree ends of the filaments, cutting from the seized filaments apredetermined length to yield a group of fibers and repeating theseoperations so as to obtain a succession of groups of separated fibers,and, while the cut fibers are still separate, assembling the groups offibers in such a manner that the forward ends of fibers of each groupoverlap the rearward ends of fibers of the preceding group to such anextent that upon subsequently com- 'pacting the fibers a coherentcontinuous product by feeding forward the bundle, separating thefilaments of the bundle from each other at the end of the bundle for alength longer than the length of staple desired, applying suction to thefree ends of the separated filaments to seize them, cutting from theseized fiaments a predetermined length to yield a group of fiber andrepeating these operations so as to obtain a succession of groups ofseparated fibers, and, while the cut fibers are still separate,assembling the groups of fibers in such a manner that the forward endsof fibers of each group overlap the rearward ends of fibers of thepreceding group to such an extent that upon subsequently compacting thefibers a coherent continuous product consisting of staple .ing asubstantially twistless forward ends of fibers of each rearward ends offibers of the preceding group to j fiber may be produced, and thencompacting the fibers into the continuous staple fiber product.

6. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber products, which consistsin continuously convertbundle of associated continuous filaments into astaple fiber product by feeding forward the bundle, separating thefilaments of the bundle from each other at the end of the bundle for alength longer than the length of staple desired, extending the separatedfilaments over a permeable support, passing a gaseous current throughthe supportso as to seize the free ends of the filaments and hold themto the support, cutting from the seized filaments a predetermined lengthto yield a group of fibers and repeating these operations so as toobtain a succession of groups of separated fibers, and, while the cutfibers are still separate, assembling the groups of fibers in such amanner that the group overlap the such an extent that upon subsequentlycompacting the fibers a coherent continuous product consisting of staplefiber may be produced, and then compacting the fibers into thecontinuous staple fiber product.

7. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber products, which consistsin continuously converting a substantially twistless bundle ofassociated continuous filaments into a staple. fiber product by feedingforward the bundle, dividing the filaments of the bundle into groups,separating the filaments of the respective groups from each other at theends of the groups for a length longer than the staple desired and sothat the filaments assume a fan shape, cutting from the end of eachfan-shaped group a predetermined length of the separated filaments toyield a group of cut fibers from each group of continuous filaments, thecutting being efiectedin a manner such that the ends of the fibers cutfrom each group are staggered with respect to the ends of the fibers cutfrom the other groups, and repeating these operations to obtain fromeach group of continuous filaments a succession of cut groups ofseparated fibers, and, while the fibers of the cut groups are stillseparate, associating the successions of groups of fibers in such amanner that the forward ends of the fibers of each group overlap therearward ends of the fibers of the preceding group and then compactingthe associated groups into a single continuous staple fiber product.

21. Process for the manufacture of. staple fiber products, whichconsists in continuously converting a substantially twistless bundle ofassociated continuous filaments into staple fiber products by feedingforward the bundle, dividing the filaments of the bundle into groups,separating the filaments of the respective groups from each other at theends of the groups fora length longer than the length of staple desiredand sothat the filaments assume a fan shape, cutting from the end ofeach fan-shaped group a predetermined length of the separated filamentsto yield a group of cut fibers from each group of continuous filaments,and repeating these operations to obtain from each group of filaments'a-succession of groups oi! cut fibers, and, while the cut fibers arestill separate, assembling the successions of groups of fibers cut fromeach group of filaments in such a manner that the forward ends of thefibers of each groupoverlap the rearward ends of fibers of the precedinggroup to such an extent that upon subsequently compacting thesuccessions of groups coherent continuous products consisting of stapleby feeding forward the fibers may be produced, and then compacting thesuccessions of groups to form from each one an individual continuousstaple fiber-product.

9. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber products, which consistsin continuously converting a substantially twistless bundle ofassociated continuous filaments into a staple fiber product by feedingforward the bundle, separating the filaments at the end of the bundleinto the form of a fiat band for a length longer than the length ofstaple desired and so that the filaments assume a fan shape, cuttingfroni gsjuch fan-shaped separated filaments a predetermined length toyield a group of fibers and repeating these operations so as to obtain asuccession of groups of separated fibers, and, while the cut fibers arestill separate, assembling the groups of fibers in such a manner thatthe forward ends of fibers of each group overlap the rearward ends offibers of the preceding group to such an extend that upon subsequentlyseparated filaments obliquely across the width of the bundle to yield agroup of separated, staggered fibers of predetermined length, andrepeating these operations so as to obtain a succession of such groupsof fibers, and, while the cut fibers are still separate, assembling thegroups of fibers in such a manner that the forward ends of fibers ofeach'group overlap the rearward ends of fibers of the preceding group tosuch an extent that upon subsequently compacting the fibers a coherentcontinuous product consisting of staple fiber may be produced, and thencompacting the fibers into the continuous staple fiber product. 4

11. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber products which consistsin continuously converting a substantially twistless bundle ofassociated continuous filaments into a staple fiber product by feedingforward the bundle, separating the filaments of the bundle from eachother at the end of the bundle for a length longer than the length ofstaple desired and so thatthe filaments assume a fan shape, cutting fromsuch fanshaped separated filaments a predetermined length to yield agroup of fibers and repeating these operations so as to obtain asuccession of fibers are still separate, assembling the groups of fibersin such a manner that the forward ends coherent continuous productconsisting of staple fiber may be produced, and then rubbing theassembled groups of fibers so as to roll and compact theminto thecontinuous staple fiber product.

12. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber products, which consistsin continuously converting a. substantially twistless bundle ofassociated continuous filaments into a staple fiber product bundle.separating the groups 'of separated fibers, and, while the out ifilaments of the bundle from each other at the end of the bundle for alength longer than the length of staple desired and so that thefilaments assume a fan shape, cutting from such fanshaped separatedfilaments a predetermined length to yield a group of fibers andrepeating these operations so as to obtain a succession of groups ofseparated fibers, and, while the cut fibers are still separate,assembling the groups of fibers in such a manner that the forward endsof fibers of each group overlap the rearward ends of fibers of thepreceding group to such an extent that upon subsequently compacting thefibers a coherent continuous product consisting of staple fiber may beproduced, and then compacting the fibers into the continuous staplefiber product, and twisting theproduct into yarn.

13. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber products, which consistsin continuously converting a substantially twistless bundle ofassociated continuous filaments of artificial material into a staplefiber product by feeding forward the bundle, separating the filaments ofthe bundle from each other at the end of the bundle so that thefilaments assume a fan shape, cutting from such fan-shaped separatedfilaments a predetermined length to yield a group of fibers andrepeating these operations so as to obtain a succession of groups ofseparated fibers, and, while the cut fibers are still separated,assembling the groups of fibers in such a manner that the forward endsof fibers of each group overlap the rearward ends of fibers 'of 'thepreceding group to such an extent that upon subsequently compacting thefibers a coherent continuous product consisting of staple fiber may beproduced, and then compacting the fibers into the continuous staplefiber product.

14. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber products, which consistsin continuously convert-.

ing a substantially twistless bundle of assoicated continuous filamentsof cellulose acetate into a staple fiber product by feeding forward thebundle, separating the filaments. of the bundle from each other at theend of the bundle so that the filaments assume a fan shape, cutting fromsuch fan-shaped separated filaments a predetermined length to yield agroup of fibers and repeating these operations so as to obtain asuccession of groups of separated fibers, and, while the cut fibers arestill separate, assembling the groups of fibers in such a manner thatthe forward ends offibers of each group overlap the rearward ends offibers of the preceding group to such an extent that upon subsequentlycompacting the fibers a coherent continuous product consisting of staplefiber may be produced, and then compacting the fibers into thecontinuous staple fiber product.

15. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber products, which consistsin continuously converting a substantially twistless bundle ofassociated continuous filaments of cellulose acetate into a staple fiberproduct by feeding forward the bundle, separating the filaments of thebundle from each other-at the end of the bundle for a length longer thanthe length of staple desired and so that the filaments assume a fanshape, cutting from such fan-shaped separated filaments a predeterminedlength to yield a group of fibers and repeating these operations so asto obtain a succession of groups of separated fibers, and, while the cutfibers are still separate, assembling the groups of fibers in such amanner that the forward ends of fibers of each group overlap therearward ends of fibers of the preceding group to such an extent thatupon subsequently compacting the fibers acoherent continuous productconsisting of staple fiber may be produced, and then compacting thefibers into the continuous staple fiber product, and twisting theproduct into yarn.

16. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber products, which consistsin continuously converting a substantially twistless bundle ofassociated continuous filaments of cellulose acetate into a staple fiberproduct by feeding forward the bundle, electrifying the bundle to causemutual repulsion and spreading of the filaments, separating thespreading filaments of the bundle from each other at the end of thebundle for a length longer than the length of staple desired, cuttingfrom such separated filaments a predetermined length toyield a group offibers and repeating these operations so as to obtain a succession ofgroups of separated fibers, and, while the cut fibers are stillseparate,-assembling the groups of fibers in such a manner that theforward ends of fibers of each group overlap the rearward ends of fibersof the preceding group to such an extent that upon subsequentlycompacting the fibers a coherent continuous product consisting of staplefiber may be produced, and then compacting the fibers into thecontinuous staple fiber product.

17. Process for the manufacture of staple fiber products, which consistsin continuously converting a substantially twistless bundle ofassociated continuous filaments into a staple fiber product by feedingforward the, bundle, separating the filaments of the bundle from eachother at the end of the bundle into the form of a flat fanshaped band,cutting from such fan-shaped band of separated filaments a predeterminedlength to yield a group of fibers and repeating these operations so asto obtain a succession of groups of separated fibers, and, while the cutfibers are still separate, assembling the groups of fibers in such amanner that the forward ends of fibers of each group overlap therearward ends of fibers of the preceding group to such an extent thatupon.subsequently compacting the fibers a coherentcontinuous productconsisting of staple fiber may be produced, and then compacting thefibers into the continuous staple fiber product.

18. Apparatus for the manufacture of staple fiber products, comprisingmeans for feeding forward a bundle of continuous filaments, means forseparating the filaments of thebundle from each other at the end of thebundle in such a manner that they assume a fan shape, a cutting deviceadapted to cut from the fan-shaped group of separated filaments asuccession of groups of separated fibers of predetermined length, meansfor assembling the groups of fibers in such a manner that the forwardends of fibers of each group overlap the rearward ,ends of fibers of thepreceding group to such n extent that upon subsequently compacting t efibers a coherent continuous product consisting of staple fiber may .beproduced, and means for compacting the fibers into a continuous staplefiber product.

19. Apparatus for the manufacture of staple fiber products, comprisingmeans for feeding forward a bundle of continuous filaments, an ejectornozzle adapted to receive the end of the bundle and to apply thereto agaseous blast so as both to separate the filaments at the end of thebundle from each other over a length longer than the length of thestaple desired and to forward the filaments, a cutting device disposedin or near the path of the blast produced by the nozzle and adapted tocut from the separated filaments a succession of groups of separatedfibers ofpredetermined length, means for assembling thegroups of fibersin such a manner that the forward ends of fibers of each group overlapthe rearward ends of fibers of the preceding group to such an extentthat upon subsequently compacting the fibers a coherent continuousproduct consisting of staple fiber may be produced, and means forcompacting the fibers into a continuous staple fiber product.

20. Apparatus for the manufacture of staple fiber products, comprisingmeans for feeding forward a bundle of continuous filaments, means forseparating the filaments of the bundle from each other at the end of thebundle for a length longer than the length of staple desired and in sucha manner that they assume a fan shape, means for seizing the ends of thefan-shaped group of separated filaments, a cutting device adapted to cutfrom the seized filaments a succession of groups of separated fibers 'ofpredetermined length, means for assembling the groups of fibers in sucha manner that the forward ends of fibers of each group overlap therearward ends of fibers of the preceding group to such an extent I thatupon subsequently compacting the fibers a coherent continuous productconsisting of staple fiber may be produced, and means for compacting thefibers into a continuous staple fiber product.

21. Apparatus for the manufacture of staple fiber products, comprisingmeans for feeding forward a bundle of continuous filaments, an ejectornozzle adapted to receive the end of the bundle and to apply thereto agaseous blast so as both to separate the filaments at the end of thebundle from each other over a length longer than the length of thestaple desired and to forward the filaments, means for seizing the endsof the separated filaments, a cutting device adapted to cut from theseized filaments a succession of groups of separated. fibers ofpredetermined length, means for assembling the groups of fibers in sucha manner that the forward ends of fibers of each group overlap therearward ends of fibers of the preceding group to such an extent thatupon subsequently compacting the fibers a coherent continuous productconsisting of staple fiber may be produced, and means for compacting thefibers into a continuous staple fiber product.

22. Apparatus for the manufacture of staple fiber products, comprisingmeans for feeding forward a bundle of continuous filaments, an ejectornozzle adapted to receive the end of the bundle and to apply thereto agaseous blast so as both to separate the filaments at the end of thebundle from each other over a length longer than the length of thestaple desired and to forward .the filaments, a permeable support, meansfor sucking a current of air through the support so as to seize and holdto the support the free ends of the separated filaments, a cuttingdevice comprising a pair of multi-toothed co-operating members, saidcutting device being adapted to cut from the seized filaments asuccession of groups of, fibers of predetermined length, means formoving the support in the direction 01' the length of the flbergroups soas to carry the last received group forward to some extent before thesucceeding group is received, rubbing bands adapted to receive the fibergroups from the support and to compact the fibers into a coherent itsperiphery,

continuous product, and a twisting device adapted to twist into yarn andwind the product. 23. Apparatus for the manufacture of staple fiberproducts, comprising means for feeding forward a bundle of continuousfilaments, an ejector nozzle having a flat, flared ejecting orifice,said nozzle being adapted to receive the end of the'bundle and to applythereto a gaseous blast so as both to separate the filaments at the endof the bundle from each other into the form of a flat band and toforward the filaments from the orifice, a cutting device adapted to cutfrom the separated filaments a succession of groups of separated fibersof predetermined length, means for assembling the groups of fibers insuch a manner that the forward ends of fibers of each group overlap therearward ends of fibers of the preceding group to such an extent thatupon subsequently compacting the fibers a coherent continuous productconsisting of staple fiber may be produced, and means for compacting thefibers into a continuous staple fiber product.

24. Apparatus for the manufacture of staple fiber products, comprisingmeans for feeding forward a bundle of continuous filaments, an ejecto-rnozzle adapted. to receive the end of the bundle and to apply thereto agaseous blast so as both to separate the filaments at the end of thebundle from each other over a length longer than the length of thestaple desired and to for- -ward the filaments, means for interruptingand cutting device disposed near the path of the blast produced by thenozzle and adapted to cut from the separated filaments a succession ofgroups of separated fibers of predetermined length, means for assemblingthe groups of fibers in such a manner that the forward ends of fibers ofeach group overlap the rearward ends of fibers of the preceding group tosuch an extent that upon subsequently compacting the fibers a coherentcontinuous product consisting of staple fiber may be produced, and meansfor compacting the fibers into a continuous staple fiber product.

25. Apparatus for the manufacture of staple fiber products, comprisingmeans for feeding forward a bundle of continuous filaments, means forseparating the filaments of the bundle from each other at the end of thebundle for a length longer than the length of staple desired, suctionmeans for seizing the ends of the separated filaments, a cutting deviceadapted to cut from the seized filaments a succession of groups ofseparated fibers of predetermined length, means for assembling thegroups of fibers in such a manner that the forward ends of fibers ofeach group overlap the rearward ends of fibers of the preceding grouptosuch an extent that upon subsequently compacting the fibers a coherentcontinuous product consisting of staple fiber may OB produced, and meansfor compacting the fibers into a continuous staple fiber product.

26. Apparatus according to claim 25, comprising a suction conduitdisposed near the cutting device and formed with perforations at pointsin an endless permeable band contacting with the surface of the conduit,said conduit being disposed in a manner such that air flowing throughthe perforations sucks to the band the ends of the separated filamentsprior to and during cutting, and the freshly cut end of each group offilaments after cutting, and means for moving the band across thesurface of the conduitin the direction of the length of the forward tosome extent before the succeeding group is received.

27. Apparatus for the manufacture of staple fiber products, comprisingmeans for feeding forward a bundle of continuous filaments, means forseparating the filaments of the bundle from each other at the end of thebundle in such a manner that they assume a fan shape, a cutting deviceadapted to cut from the fan-shaped group of separated filaments asuccession of groups of separated fibers of predetermined length, saidcutting device being disposed so as to cut the separated filamentsobliquely across the width of the bundle, means for assembling thegroups of fibers in such a manner that the forward ends of fibers ofeach group overlap the rearward ends of fibers of the preceding group tosuch an extent that upon subsequently-compacting the fibers a coherentcontinuous product consisting of staple fiber may be produced and meansfor compacting the fibers into a continuous staple fiber product.

' 28. Apparatus for the manufacture of staple fiber products, comprisingmeans for feeding forward a bundle of continuous filaments, means forseparating the filaments of the bundle from each other at the end of thebundle, a cutting device comprising a pair of multi-toothed cooperatingmembers having a relative longitudinal movement, said cutting devicebeing adapted to cut from the separated filaments a succession of groupsof separated fibers of predetermined length, means for assembling thegroups of fibers in such a manner that the forward ends of fibers ofeach group overlap the rearward ends of fibers of the preceding group tosuch an extent that upon subsequently compacting the fibers a coherentcontinuous product consisting of staple fiber may be produced, and meansfor compacting the fibers into a continuous staple fiber product.

29. Apparatus for the manufacture of staple fiber products, comprisingmeans for feeding forward a bundle of continuous filaments, means forseparating the filaments of the bundle from each other at the end of thebundle in such a manner that they assume a fan shape, a cutting devicedisposed out of the path of the filaments, means for bringing the endportions of the fan-shaped group of separated filaments into engagementwith the cutting device at intervals so as to form from the continuousfilaments a succession of groups of separated fibers of predeterminedlength, means for assembling the groups of fibers in such a manner thatthe forward ends of fibers of each group overlap the rearward ends offibers of the preceding group to such an extent that upon subsequentlycompacting the fibers a coherent continuous product consisting of staplefiber may be produced,

fiber groups so'as to carry the last received group and means forcompacting the fibers into a continuous staple fiber product;

30. Apparatus for the manufacture of staple fiber products, comprisingmeans for feeding forward a bundle of continuous filaments, means forseparating the filaments of the bundle from each other at the end ofthebundle in such a manner that they assume a fan shape, a cuttingdevice adapted to cut from the fan-shaped group of separated filaments asuccession of groups of separated fibers of predetermined length, meansfor assembling the groups of fibers in such a manner that the forwardends of fibers of each group overlap the rearward ends of fibers of thepreceding group to such an extent that upon subsequently compacting thefibers a coherent continuous product consisting of staple fiber may beproduced, means for compacting the fibers into a continuous staple fiberproduct, and means for twisting the product into yarn.

31. Apparatus for the manufacture of staple fiber products, comprisingmeans for feeding forward a bundle of continuous filaments, a gatetension device adapted to engage thebundle so as to electrify thecomponent filaments thereof and cause mutual repulsion and spreading ofthe filaments, means for separating the spreading filaments from eachother at the end of the 32. Apparatus for the manufacture of staple,

fiber products, comprising-means for feeding forward a bundle ofcontinuous filaments, means for separating the filaments of the bundlefrom each other at the end of the bundle in such a manner that theyassume a fan shape, a cutting device adapted to cut from the fan-shapedgroup of separated filaments a succession of groups of separated fibersof predetermined length, means for drawingthe filaments clear of thecutting device after the cutting of each group of fibers, means forassembling the groups of fibers in such a manner that the forward endsof fibers of each group overlap the rearward ends of fibers of thepreceding group to such an extent that upon subsequently compacting thefibers a coherent continuous product consisting of staple fiber may beproduced, and means for compacting the fibers into a continuous staplefiber product.

- HENRY DREYFUSJ WILLIAM POOL.

